JERUSALEM, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Tuesday urged both Israel and the United State to be more careful about publicly airing their differences on Iran, since they are long time allies.
"... There are some differences between the U.S.' and Israeli positions. These differences should be resolved behind closed doors," Barak said.
"The United States is Israel's principal ally and despite the differences, we must also keep in mind the strategic importance of the partnership with the United States, and refrain from hurting it," he said, trying to downplay the recent breach between the two countries.
On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu harshly rebuffed U.S.'s decision of not setting "red lines" for Iran.
"The world tells Israel 'wait, there's still time'. And I say, 'Wait for what? Wait until when?' Those in the international community who refuse to put red lines before Iran don't have a moral right to place a red light before Israel," Netanyahu said during a press conference with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.
The remarks came amid a deepening rift between Israel and the United States over the urgency of attacking Iran's nuclear facilities, with the former seeking to secure a clear public statement from U.S. President Barack Obama concerning the United States' red lines for Tehran that, if crossed, will prompt military action.
On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton clarified that Washington is not currently prepared to publicly commit to laying down "red lines" for Iran.
Later on Tuesday, local media reported that Netanyahu will not meet Obama when he visits the United States later this month for the UN General Assembly in New York.
JERUSALEM, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Israeli top officials on Monday lashed out at the United States' decision not to set "red lines" regarding the Iranian nuclear program, a stance they deem will give Iran more time to develop a nuclear bomb.
The officials commented on U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's statements on Iran, in which Clinton said the United States does not want to set "deadlines" to Iran's nuclear program, The Haaretz daily reported. Full story
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- The United States insisted on Monday that there is still "time and space" to end the standoff over Iran's nuclear program, in a subtle rebuttal of Israel's demand for a clear red line.
"We believe that there remains time and space for that effort to bear fruit, an effort that is focused on punitive sanctions to isolate and pressure Iran, and on diplomacy to bring about a change in behavior from Iran," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters at a regular news briefing. Full story
JERUSALEM, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu late on Sunday said that Israel and the United States are engaged in discussions aimed at establishing red lines that could potentially deter Iran from continuing its nuclear program.
"It is important to realize that Iran will not stop unless it sees a clear red line," Netanyahu said in an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Full story
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